The quantity of industrial water use that is permitted in the Pathfinder to Guernsey subbasin exceeds that of any other subbasin in WyomingÆs Platte River Basin.áThe oil industry is permitted to use the most water for industrial purposes in this subbasin, followed by the aggregate and concrete production industry.áPermitted industrial water use in this subbasin comprises approximately 36.6 percent of all permitted Platte River Basin industrial water use for both groundwater and surface water combined.áGroundwater use comprises about 82 percent of permitted industrial water use in the Pathfinder to Guernsey subbasin.á

The most prominent water user among mining companies in the subbasin is Power Resources Incorporated and Rio Algom Mining Corporation.áThis company operates the Highland and Smith Ranch in-situ leaching uranium mines located approximately 16 miles north of Glenrock.áThe Highland and Smith Ranch mines are currently the largest operated uranium production facilities in the United States.áPower Resources has a total permitted yield for groundwater use of 12,461 gallons per minute (20,098 acre-feet per year) within the Pathfinder to Guernsey subbasin.áEstimated 2004 water consumption at the Highland Uranium Project and the Smith Ranch Project was 178.1 acre-feet and 72.1 acre-feet, respectively, or about 155 gallons per minute.á

Oil exploration and refining in the Pathfinder to Guernsey subbasin was at one time a large water-consuming industry.áIn recent years two refineries located in Casper, including the old Texaco refinery, ceased operations. In the summer of 2003, ChevronTexaco replaced previous groundwater right permits and a surface water right permit with new groundwater permits for the previous Texaco refinery site in the Casper area.áPrevious permits were replaced by 50 new well permits with a total permitted yield of 3,365 gallons per minute.áChevronTexacoÆs previous total permitted groundwater yield had been approximately 6,000 gallons per minute, and the previous permitted surface water yield was 69.02 cubic feet of water per second (31,000 gallons per minute).á

Other major oil industry groundwater consumers within the Pathfinder to Guernsey subbasin include ConocoPhillips, BP North America, Union Oil Company of California, Hondo Oil and Gas Company, and Farmers Union Central Exchange.áPrevious ConocoPhillips wells located near Glenrock are under new ownership.áTotal permitted yield for these wells is 2,851 gallons per minute (6.35 cubic feet per second).áBP North America holds permits for groundwater use at a rate of 2,150 gallons per minute (4.79 cubic feet per second).á

Oil companies permitted by the Wyoming SEO to use surface water within the Pathfinder to Guernsey subbasin include Continental Oil Company, Midwest Refining Company, and Producers and Refiners Corporation.áThese companies have a combined SEO permitted surface water yield of approximately 4.28 cubic feet per second (1,900 gallons per minute) on the North Platte River and on Willow Creek.

Industrial use of water for power generation includes Dave Johnston Power Plant, which was constructed in 1958 and is owned by PacifiCorp.áPacifiCorp is permitted to use 2,920 gallons per minute (6.51 cubic feet per second) of groundwater.áPacifiCorp is also permitted to use North Platte River surface water at a rate of 9.48 cubic feet per second (about 4,250 gallons per minute).áActual PacifiCorp water use is approximately 11.62 cubic feet per second of groundwater (about 5,220 gallons per minute).á

The mining and processing of aggregates and other non-fuel minerals and the manufacturing of cement and concrete are large industries in the State of Wyoming and are the third largest permitted industrial water use category in the Pathfinder to Guernsey subbasin.áMajor subbasin industrial water users of this type include:

• JTL Group.áPreviously Casper Concrete Company, JTL Group is permitted to use groundwater at a rate of approximately 7,980 gallons per minute (17.78 cubic feet per second) for the production of ready-mix concrete.á
• Menter Sand and Gravel Company. Located in Douglas, Menter sells aggregates and ready-mix concrete, and asphalt paving materials.áThe company also operates several aggregate pits in Natrona and Converse Counties.áMenter Sand and Gravel is permitted to use groundwater at a rate of 10 gallons per minute (0.02 cubic feet per second).

The miscellaneous industrial water users within the Pathfinder to Guernsey subbasin include the North Platte Water and Sewer District, Equality State Bank, General American Transportation Corporation, and the Town of Douglas.á